Natural Computing: 2nd International Workshop on Natural Computing Nagoya, Japan, December 2007, Proceedings (Proceedings in Information and Communications Technology, 1)

Most natural and artificial systems transform information in a predictable or programmable way; such transformation can be interpreted as harnessing nature for computing. Recently we have witnessed a burst of research in unconventional computing, resulting in the development of experimental prototypes of natural computers, plasmodium computers, reaction-diffusion processors, and DNA computers as well as theoretical paradigms of natural computation such as cellular automata, artificial chemistry, evolutionary computing, and neural networks. The International Workshop on Natural Computing (IWNC) brings together computer scientists, biologists, mathematicians, electronic engineers, physicists, and others to critically assess present findings in the field, and to outline future developments in nature-inspired computing. This compilation of papers presented at the most recent workshop, held in Nagoya, Japan, makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of natural computing. Front Matter....Pages - Combinatorial Optimization by Amoeba-Based Neurocomputer with Chaotic Dynamics....Pages 1-15 Factorizing RSA Keys....Pages 16-27 Toward a Representation of Hybrid Functional Petri Nets by MP Systems....Pages 28-37 Computing with Feedforward Networks of Artificial Biochemical Neurons....Pages 38-47 Information Processing with Structured Chemical Excitable Medium....Pages 48-69 Wholeness and Information Processing in Biological Networks: An Algebraic Study of Network Motifs....Pages 70-80 Regulation Effects by Programmed Molecules for Transcription-Based Diagnostic Automata towards Therapeutic Use....Pages 81-89 On Detection and Isolation of Defective Cells in Self-Timed Cellular Automata....Pages 90-100 Towards the Sequence Design Preventing Pseudoknot Formation....Pages 101-110 Self-organized Spatio-temporal Oscillation Observed in a Chain of Non-oscillatory Cells....Pages 111-121 Exploiting Natural Asynchrony and Local Knowledge within Systemic Computation to Enable Generic Neural Structures....Pages 122-133 Molecular Communication: Simulation of Microtubule Topology....Pages 134-144 Monte Carlo Simulation in Lattice Ecosystem: Top-Predator Conservation and Population Uncertainty....Pages 145-154 Toward Biologically Inspired Constructive Computation....Pages 155-166 A Classification of Triplet Local Rules with Inverse Image Sequences....Pages 167-178 An Efficient Multiple Alignment Method for RNA Secondary Structures Including Pseudoknots....Pages 179-188 Asymmetric Interaction in Non-equilibrium Dissipative System towards Dynamics for Biological System....Pages 189-200 Design and Numerical Analysis of RNA Oscillator....Pages 201-212 Protoplasmic Computing to Memorize and Recall Periodic Environmental Events....Pages 213-221 A Synchronization Problem in Two-Dimensional Cellular Automata....Pages 222-237 Information Exchange between Moving Particles and Defects....Pages 238-249 Back Matter....Pages - This book is the refereed proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Natural Computing, IWNC 2007, held in Noyori Conference Hall, Nagoya University in December 2007. IWNC aims to bring together computer scientists, biologists, mathematicians, electronic engineers, physicists, and humanitarians, to critically assess present findings in the field, and to outline future developments in nature-inspired computing.